Calvin Valentine Keep Summer Safe

stream Calvin Valentine's 'Keep Summer Safe'

Oregon’s Calvin Valentine has helped make a name for himself by producing for some legends, like the De La Soul/Nas song “God It,” and he also makes high-quality music of his own. He recently signed to Mello Music Group and his first release for the label was this year’s Plush Seats beat tape, and now he’s set to release his first proper album for the label, Keep Summer Safe, this Friday (9/14) (pre-order). The only two guests on the album are Danielle Henderson and Illa J (J Dilla’s brother); otherwise, Calvin raps, sings his own hooks, and makes his own beats, and he’s a natural at all three. The production is warm and soulful and heavy on turntable scratches — it’s the perfect backdrop for Calvin’s crooning singing and ’90s-style bars. Fans of Calvin’s collaborators De La Soul, as well as OutKast, will probably find a lot to like here. When Calvin spoke to us about the album, here’s how he put it: “Whole lot of weed, whole lot raps, whole lot of fun.”

The full stream premieres right here: